Terminally ill girl, family get police help for the holidays after thief takes their Christmas lights

KPNX - Two Phoenix, Arizona police officers had seen holiday decorations stolen before, but the theft at one home motivated Officers Jacob Lewis and David Head to go above and beyond the call of duty.

About two weeks before Thanksgiving, Jessica Smith of Phoenix got the news that her 5-year-old daughter, Linzy, was suffering from a rare bone marrow disease. She already had several other genetic disorders, including autism and dwarfism.

The diagnosis meant that Smith and Linzy would need to spend their holidays away from home. She would go to Houston for treatment. The prognosis was sobering - it could be Linzy's last Christmas.

Smith decided to decorate their house early for Christmas. After Smith finished the decorations, Linzy was thrilled to see two lit reindeer, three Christmas trees and a Santa on his sleigh in her front yard.

One day, as the family dealt with the news and preparing for the trip to Houston, Smith walked out her door. She found all the decorations, meant as holiday cheer for a struggling family, gone.

"It was all gone. The only thing that was left was the net on the ground and the lights," Smith said.